State v. Hines

On this appeal, Christopher W. Hines maintains his confrontation rights were violated and the trial court erred when the court sua sponte sent to the jury a police report containing hearsay evidence from an informant who had not testified. We conclude that the trial court misused its discretion. The court did not consider whether the police report would aid the jury, would unduly prejudice Hines or could have been improperly used by the jury. Therefore, we reverse Hines' convictions and remand for a new trial.

A single individual robbed Smacker's Tavern in Kenosha and assaulted the bartender.…